Master-keyed lock



Nov. 10I 1925.

Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

JULES A. FREMON,

OF LEEPER, MISSOURI.

MASTERKEYED LOCK.

Application led November 1G, 1921. Serial No. 514,245.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JULES A. FRnMoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leeper, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Masten Keyed Locks, of which the ollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application.

My invention relates to pin tumbler locks of the type described in my copending application Serial Number 510,830, and consists in various improvements on the lock there shown which especially adapt it for use as a master keyed lock or as a multiple key lock and which produces a more durable and easier working lock whether used as a single key, master key, or multiple key lock.

One of the objects of my invention is to so lock the separable members containing the pin tumblers to each other that the pin tumbler recesses will be rigidly aligned, thereby avoiding catching of the ends of the pin tumblers upon the edges of the lock members and undue tumblers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a master keyed lock that affords the saine degree of protection against the use of unauthorized keys as is afforded by a straight pin tumbler lock.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for master keying a lock to any wear of the pin desired extent, that is, in addition to the service key and the master key, the lock may be adapted for sub-master keys, grand master keys, etc.

An additional object of my invention is to provide means for enabling the possessor of a service key to change same at will without affectingV the operation oi the master keys and similarly to enable the possessor of any master key to change same without atfecting the possessor of the service'key or any other master key.

In the accompanying lustrate myinventionl Figure .-1 `is a vertical longitudinalsection through my improved pinl tumbler'lock adapted forfchangeablekey construction.

drawings, Zwhich il Figures sito inclusive.' vertcal'tranef verse sections, largely diagrammatic, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, but showing the various parts in diflerent operating positions.

K Figure 7 is an enlarged section similar to Figure 2 and illustrating certain details omittedv from Figures 2 to 6 inclusive t avoid vconfusion in the latter.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section on line 8-8 of. Figure 7 Figures 9, 10 and 1.1 illustrate a modified form of my invention.

Figure 12 illustrates another modification which embodies my invention in one of its simplest forms.

To more clearly describe my lock and its operation, I shall first explain the simpler construction illustrated in Figure 12, although the same does not contain the changeable key feature referred to above and, therefore, in some respects is more limited in its capacity.

The lock case 1 is cylindrical in form and provided with upper and lower extensions 2 and 3, respectively. Rotatably mounted in case 1 are successive rings Il, 5 and .6 and a cylindrical plug 7. The case, rings and plug may be arranged eccentrically as here shown, or concentrically as shown in Figures 1 to 8. Plug 7 contains an axial key-way 8 for receiving and holding a key against vertical movement in the usual manner. An ordinary bolt-throwing-cam (not shown) is mounted on the rear end of the plug. The case, each of the rings, and the plug contain a pin-way for the reception of respective pin tumbler segments 9, l0, 11, 12 and 13. All of these pin-ways are adapted to be aligned as shown in Figure 1 2to permit raising of the pins by the key bits to register the meeting ends of any two predetermined segments withthe meeting surfaces of their two corresponding rings or case and ring l or plug and ring 6.

The case, rings and plug are provided with another series of pinways extending downwardly, offset from the pin tumbler pin-ways longitudinally of case. 1, and adapted to receive aligning pins 14 and 1 5.

Preferably the litfbetween pins 14- and 15 andthe pin-way/f-o'r these pins is'substa'n- 'f tially closer than that. between-pin tumblers 594 to '13 and tlreirjpnjways* Consequently pin tumblers 9 to 13 will be free to .move up and down independently of any friction with the sides of the passageway through the case, rings and plug which otherwise might be caused by undesired rotation of the rings relatively to each other or the case andY plug.

The lengths of pin tumblers 9. to 13 are, such that when a key is inserted in plug 7, there will be a single registration of the ends of two pin tumblers with the meeting surfaces of two of the containing members.

A grand master key will be adapted to rotate plug 7 only byy raising the top of segment 13 to the top ofthe plug and lowering the bottom of aligning pin'` lt t0 the. bottom of plug 7. This will leave all. ofthe rings locked to the case and each` other by segments 91.0 l2 mi ineiflentelly by aligning pin 15. Upon insertion of a master key', the tor Oi' Segment 1.?.- Will be raised te the i011) ofring Gand the bottom ot 14- will lowered to the bottom of ring 6', but segment 13 will lock ring (j to plug 7 incidentally pin 1 4 will silnyiilarl'y lock the plug and adjacent ring. llng 7 and ring 6 may be rotated as a unit by this key to throw the lock bolt. Upon insertion of" a sub-master key, the top of segment 11 will be raised to the topI of ring 5 and the bottom of pin 1-'l lowered to the bottom ot ring 5. Segments 12 and 13 will lock rings 5 and 6 to each other and to plug 7 andk incidentally pin 14C will lock plug 7 and rings 5 andy 6 together. The plug and the twov adjacent rings will be rotated as a unit to throw theV bolt. Upon insertion of a service key, all of the rings and. plug will be similarly locked Iand rotatable as a unit in case 1. i i

In all of these operations, the closeV lt of pins 14s and 15 in their pin-.WayS will. llililtain an accurate aljigmnent of the tubular pin-ways tov permit tree and, easy movement of the pin tinnblers, as actuated' by the key bits or. springs, 1 6. It will" be understood that there is a longitudinal series ofradial pin tumbler pin-ways` but that only one aligning' 121.11 recess. iS necessarie although more may be used, 1fV desired. tf only one of aligning pms, is provided, the single aligning pin bi't on each' of the keys mayV be So pQStiOned that. e 19mg gradual incline t0 the crest of the bit maybe thereby piel.'- mitting the insertion 'spring'. 17"' of heavier compression than ordinarily used, to operate the pin tumblegjs, locks. Thiswill overcome any friction resulting from the doser t leCeSS. Well- Theoretically, there is no limit to the weiber 0.1? sueeessgveriilgs' whicli ms' be provided in a lock. ot this type, and 'each ring-1.1 the edrivide H1 'fdr' the veel I uoth rm* t n s 1 af hotel inet@ .et vente ser e@ could have a key for between pins.. liee. '15 and their.

the locks on one floor only, another employee could have a key for all of the locks on several floors or one wing of the building, and a manager could have a key for all of the locks in the building and so on.

Now referring to the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures l to 8, inclusive, the basic principle of operation of the lock is the same as in the construction shown in Figure 12, but the addition ofthe changeable key feature as disclosed in my above-mentioned application makes the lock somewhat more complicated and adds a number of details which will now be described.

The lock illustrated is' Constructed for service key and master key only,r but either of these keys may be changed when desired.

The ca se 18 is. here shown with a single upward, extensies 19. and lilieSQ-O, 2l and 22 arev disposed concentrically within the case and about` plug 23. The key slot is located in the center of the plug instead of in the lower portion. In addition to service key pin tumblers 2&1, 25, 2G, 27, and 28 and master key pin tumblers 29, 30, and 31, the lock contains uniting pins 33 and 34 located respectively in rings 20 and 22. Pin 33 is adapted to be projectedl inwardly as shown in Figure 2 to unite ring 204 with ring 21, or to be projected outwardly as shown in Figure 4t to lock ring 2O to case 18 temporarily. Pin 34 is adapted to be projected inwardly' as shown in tigure 2 to unite ring 22 with plug or to be projected outwardly as shown in Figure 6 to lock ring 22 to ring 21 temporarily. Each of these uniting pins is provided with a spring 35 which tends to thrust the pin outwardly.

Case 18 and ring 21 are provided with sliding bars 36 and 37, respectively, which normally provide the inner face of case 18 and ring 21 with continuous surfaces over which the heads of pins 33 and 3-1 may slide.

36 in case 18 is normally projected rearwardly therefrom by a spring 38. Finger pressure upon the projecting end of bar 31S will force same forwardly so as to align a recess 39y in the` bar with the path of movement of pin 33. Bar 37, which is slidably mounted in ring 21, normally terminates adjacent to the end of the ring and inside of case 18l so` as not to interfere with rotation of the ring in the case. A short supplementary pin l15 is slidabljy mounted incase 18v and normally projects to the rear thereof, as indicatedby dotted lines ill Figure 8 to afford means for manually pushing bai' to the front to permit operation of 'pin 3st similarly to the' above described operation el? in he normal locked positionl of the various 1111.1 S S Steyn. ll, Eisner', 2' wat?. When the o key in t'h'eplug keyslot, the case 1,8, ring $29". 212111.61. 22 'alidplue 23ste. au

locked against relative rotation by pin tumblers 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Rings 21 and 22- and plug 23 are also locked against rotation by pin tumblers 29, 30 and 31. Rings 2O and 21 are united by uniting pin 33 and ring 22 and plug 23 are united by uniting pin 34.

Then the master key is inserted as shown in Figure 3, pin tumblers 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 are raised so that the meeting ends of tumblers 24 and 25 register with the meeting surfaces of ring 2O and case 18, thus permitting the rotation of rings 20, 21 and 22 and plug 23, as a unit.

When the service key is inserted as shown in Figure 4, pin tumblers 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are raised so that the meeting ends of pins 26 and 27 register with the meeting surfaces of rings 21 and 22, and pin tumblers 29, 30 and 31 are lowered so that the meeting ends of pins 30 and 31 also register with the meeting surfaces of rings 21 and 22, thus permitting the rotation of rings 20 and 21 and plug 23 as a unit within ring 22.

1t will be understood that the cam c affixed to plug 23 will operate the latch bolt in either of the above operations.

To effect a change of master keys, the present master key is inserted, as shown in Figure 3, and bar 36 is pressed forward, as shown in Figure 8, so as to align recess 39v in the bar with the path of movement of uniting pin 33.

Upon rotation of ring 20, pin 33 engages the recess in bar 36 to lock the ring to the case and disengages ring 21 to permit rotation of the parts inside of ring 20 to the position shown in Figure At this point. the pin tumblers 26, 27 and 28 in the plug and rings 21 and 22 are aligned with a pin segment recess in ring 20 containing segments 40 which are thrust inwardly by means of a wire 41 secured to a coil spring 42. Upon withdrawal of the master key, the pin-way in rings 21 and 22 and plug` 23 will be filled to the outer periphery of ring 21 with pin tumblers and pin segments and upon the insertion of a master key with a different height of bit aligned with these pin tumblers, a different number of segments 40 will be thrust outwardlj.r into ring 2O and upon rotation of ring 2() to the right, the lock will be changed for the master key only. Upon such rotation, 'the inclined righthand face of recess 39 will cam pin 33 out of the recess into its original position in which it engages ring 21.

Ordinarily uniting pin 33 prevents relative rotation of rings 20 and 21 but when uniting pin 33 is in recess 39 it does not so function and ring 21 may be rotated a short distance within ring 20. This rotation is limited by the provision of a stud 43 on ring 21 and an arcuate slot 44. iVhen stud 43 is at the lefthand end of slot 44, it will stop the 'rotation ot the key and the op erator will know that the lock parts are in master-keychanging position.

During the entire key-changing operation just described, the operation of the service key remains unaffected due to the fact that the master key does not operate pin tumblers 29, 30 and 31.

The above-described operation for the purpose of changing the number of pin tumbler segments for the master key is sub stantially duplicated for the purpose of changing the pin tumbler segments in ring 22 for the service key, it being understood that by manipulationof bar 37, ring 22 locked to ring 21 to prevent its rotation, and that the lower pin-way in plug 23 is filled to its outer periphery from the segment reservoir in rin 21. Plug 23 has a stud 49 and ring 22 has a slot 50 which elements correspond to and function as stud i 43 and slot 44. The changing of the service key does not affect the master key tumblers, since the insertion of the service key lifts tumblers 24 to 28 tofthe position shown in Figure 4 to permit rotation of plug 23 and ring 22 but such movement of these tumblers does not result in changing the distance from the bottom end of pin 28 to the top end of pin 25.

It should be noted that the service key must operate both sets of tumblers and all service keys that may be fitted to the lock will have the same bitting on the master key edge but the master key operates only one set of tumblers and therefore is bitted on one edge only.

ln the modification shown in Figures 9 to 11, the annular rings are replaced by arcuate annular members 46 and 47 which are locked together and rotated similar to the rings previously described but are limited in their rotation to approximately.,y ninety degrees when the ends of the members will contact with the end of their re cess in the case 48. This will provide a cheaper construction and in many installations will be as desirable as the more expensive construction illustrated in the other embodiments of my invention in which the annular members are rings and which may be free to rotate unlimited distance in either direction.

In any of the forms shown, although there are a plurality of relatively movable parts, when the lock is being operated normally by any key, there are but two relatively moving units. In this respect my lock retains the simplicity and advantages of the ordinary simple pin tumbler lock. When it is desired to change one key, the' elements not involved in thechanging' op` eration are securely enclosed and it is impossible to get any of the pin tumblers or their segments in the wrong recess;

These advantages are common to the-" forms illustrated and it is obvious that various other modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit of my invention, as expressed in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In Aa pin tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality of annular members surrounding said plug, a pinway through said members, pin tumblers in said pinway, and tumbler section reservoirs in different ones oit said members.

2. In a pin tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality of annular members surrounding said plug, a pinway tl'irough said members, pin tumblers in said pinway, tumbler section reservoirs in different ones of said members, and pins for selectively uniting certain ot said members ivitlreach other to provide accessl to said reservoirs by different portions ofsaid pinway.

3. In a pin tumbler lock, a case member, a plug, a plurality ot' annular members surrounding said plug, a pinway through said members, pin tumblers in said pinway, and tumbler section reservoirs in different ones of said members.

4l. In a pin tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality of annular members surrounding said plug, a pinway through said members, pin tumblers in said pinway, tumbler section reservoirs in different ones of said members, and key means for transferring pin tumblers from said pinway to any of said reservoirs and vice versa.

5. In a pin tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality ot annular members surrounding said plug, a pinivay through said members, pin tumblers in said pinway, tumbler section reservoirs in different ones of said members, and key means for transferring pin tumbler sections from different portions of said pinvvay intermediate its ends to respective ones of said reservoirs and vice versa.

6. In a pin tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality ot members surrounding said plug, all of the above-mentioned elements being rotatable relative to each other, pin tumblers, and key controlled means aside from said tumblers for selectively locking each ot the above-mentioned elements to its adj acent element or elements.

7. In a pin tumbler lock, a case, a plug member, a plurality ot members between said case and plug, all of the abovementioned members being freely rotatable. rela-- tively to. each other, pin tumblers, and key controlled means asi-de troni said tumblers iior` locking each ot'l the abovefmentioned elements to its adj acent element or elements.

Sfn a pin tumbler lock, a ca-se, a rotatable plug, a bolt cam tiXed thereto, a series ot annular members enclosingA said plug and rotatable thereon, pin.` tumblers', and ether, key@controlled pins' for selectively locking.

ieraae said plug to one or more of said members.

9. In a pin tumbler lock, a case, a rotatable plug, a bolt cam iixed thereto, a series of annular members enclosing said plug and rotatable thereon, pin tumblers, and other key-controlled pins for selectively locking said plug to one or more of said members and tor locking the remainder, if any, ot said members to said case.

l0. In a pin tumbler lock, a case, a rotatable plug, a bolt cam iiXed thereto, a series of annular members enclosing said plug and rotatable thereon, pin tumblers, and other key-controlled pins for ,selectively locking one or more ot said members to said case. ll. In a pin tumbler lock, a case, a rotat able plug, successive rotatable annular members surrounding said plug, pin-ways insaid members, 'plug and case, adapted to .be aligned to form ay continuous tubular pinway, and pin tumblers each corresponding in length. to the thickness of the respective ember inwhich it is located and separate means tor holding said pinways aligned.

l2, In a pin tumbler lock, a case, a rotatable plug, successive rotatable annular members surrounding said plug, pin-ways in said members, plug and case, adapted to be aligned to Yform a continuous tubular pinway, pin tumblers each corresponding in length to the thickness of the respective member in which it is located, and aligning pins extending through said members, plug and case to insure tree operation of said pin tumblers.

13. In a pin tumbler lock, a case, a rotatable plug, successive rotatable annular members surrounding said plug, pin-ways in said members, plug and case, adapted to be aligned to i'orm a continuous tubular pinway, and pin tumblers in said aligned pinways formed in sections which adapt the pin tumbler to be parted between the plug and the adjacent member, between any two adjacent members, or between the case and the adjacent member, and key-controlled pins tor aligning said pin-ways independently ot the action of saidv pin tumblers.

let. In a master keyed lock, a case, a plu g, an annular member therebetween enclosing said plug, pin-ways extending through said member, case and plug, `pins, in said pinwaysv adapted to, lock the above-mentioned elements to each other and adapted to be parted between different pairs of said elements by different keys to permit operation .Ot thelols l5 11.1 a www' keyed 10de a este, e plus', ann" yar members. therebetween, `pin'ways through the ebere-ueatoned' lments adapted te, be aligned thi'egheut their length. Pin tumblers in @dem atari@ Pinways t0 be @messed by a Servie@ klereilly, and Pa tumble@ iii @the et' @mais te be. @assetati if leaialsr silly? Seid latter' mentioned tumblers serving to align all of said first-mentioned tumbler pinways when a service key is inserted in the lock.

1G. In a changeable-key pin-tumbler lock, a case, a plug, a pin-Way therethrough, a series of locking pin tumbler segments in said pin-Way, which adapt the pin tumblers formed thereby to be parted at various points in their lengths to accommodate different bitted keys, and means independent oi said pin tumblers for aligning said pin-ways.

17. In a changeable-key pin-tumbler lock, a case, a plug, annular members therebetween, a pin-Way through said members, ease and plug, a series or' pin tumbler segn ments in said pin-Way which adapt the pin tumblers formed thereby to be parted at various points in their lengths to accommodate different bitted keys, and means ior aligning said pin-ways comprising other pin- Ways and other pins which lock said annular members to said case and plug except at the radial point at which the pin tumblers are to be parted.

18. In a pin tumbler lock, a key receiving plug, a member in Which said plug is rotatable, a plurality of cylindrical pinways in said plug and member, cylindrical pins in said pinwvays, one of said pins fitting its pinivay more closely than the other pins lit their pinivays and serving as an aligning member fer said plug and member.

19. In a pin tumbler lock, a key receiving plug, a member in which said plug is rotatable, a plurality of pinivays for locking pins in one side of said plug and the adjacent portion of said member, a cylindrical pin- Way in the opposite side of said plug and the adjacent portion of said member a cylindrical aligning pin itting in said cylindrical pinway more closely than said locking pins tit their pinways.

20. In a master keyed pin tumbler lock, a plug, a member in which said plug is rotatable, and pin tumblers in said plug and member, only some of which pins are oper able by a master key and all of which pins are operable by a service key.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 4th day of November, 1921.

JULES A. FREMON. 

